GR auto tech provides tips for winter prep

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — With cooler weather approaching, now is the time to get your car ready for winter.

Community Automotive Repair on Fulton Street in Grand Rapids says the first step is to check your battery to avoid being stranded in the cold with a dead car.

Next, ensure your tires are ready for winter. It’s not just about tire pressure, which can be found on a sticker inside the driver’s side door. Auto technician Nic Boris recommends checking the tread depth as well, regardless of whether your tires are all-season or winter tires. He says a minimum of 4/32 of an inch is required for good traction.

“Two is actually the legal minimum in Michigan, but anything 6/32 or better is ideal,” he explained.

To measure the tread, use a penny or a traditional quarter — your tread should be deeper than half of Abraham Lincoln’s head on the penny or the top of George Washington’s head on the quarter.

In addition to tires, Boris advises checking three other essential components: windshield fluid, brake fluid, and coolant. Windshield fluid must be freeze-protected, not just plain water, to avoid freezing in cold temperatures. Brake fluid should be inspected to ensure it won’t freeze, and coolant plays a crucial role in keeping your engine cool and your heater working properly during the winter months.

“Coolant is going to be in your radiator and running through your engine, keeping your engine cool. But it’s also going to make things work well for your heat in the wintertime and make sure your heat is working,” Boris explained. “So, as coolants mix –it should be mixed 50/50 from a concentrate with water. If maybe too much water was added when it was mixed, that could be affecting that possibly.”

For added winter prep, consider establishing a routine winter car wash to remove road salt and prevent rusting on your undercarriage. And when warming up your car, resist the urge to let it idle for long periods — just a minute is enough to get it going.

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